ways of doing tank changes

[rubberducks]

I have had my tank (already cycled) up and running with fish for about week now and I have been doing the liquid tests every other day and finally it was time to do a 25% change because the Nitrates started to go up. This was the first time changing the water since I put fish in and it was a pain in the butt!!

The way I did it was to put water in gallon jugs (originally had water in them nothing like milk!) then put the water conditioner in the jugs and siphoned the water and poured the good water back into the tank...

does anyone else do it differently (easier) that you wouldn't mind sharing with me?? :18:

[Northernguy]

Get yourself some 5gal. buckets. Its less trips to the tap. You should have buckets for old tank water and seperate buckets for filling the tank.

[MonkeyPox]

Get yourself a python. It will save yourself a ton of headaches!

[Northernguy]

Get yourself a python. It will save yourself a ton of headaches!
I like the workout! My kids are getting really strong!:hmm3grin2orange:

[jackson17]

I like the workout! My kids are getting really strong!:hmm3grin2orange:


Hopefully they don't trip around a outlet though lol:spam:

[LethalResistanz]

I use an 8 gallon bucket for my 55.

2 trips to empty. 1 trip to fill.

Takes maybe 5 minutes tops using a regular siphon.

[Northernguy]

Hopefully they don't trip around a outlet though lol:spam:
They are both more than big and strong enough! lol
I would be concerned if they were smaller.

Its best to have seperate buckets. Especially if you have more than one tank.
My clean water buckets never see anything but clean water. That way I can do several tanks.I would hate to spread any disease or parasites from one tank to another.

[Lady Hobbs]

Back in the day (pre-python) I just had the hand gravel cleaning and the bucket. I take out the amount of water I wanted (a few trips to the sink) and poured the water back in adding dechlorinator in the first bucket I poured back in. It's fine to use the hand held vac but a pain on bigger tanks because I always change out 50 % on all my tanks. I felt that since I didn't want to be a body builder, I would get the python.

Gravel vac hand held
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Python


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[ko4000]

I used the bucket method for nearly a year. But when I got the 90g I said F it and put together a home made python with the help of this forum. I still use buckets for the 10 and 20g but for the 55 & 90 I only use the python. Long live the Python!

[robflanker]

Python - screw buckets.

And NG - is that close to child abuse? lol

[MonkeyPox]

I use my python for gravel cleaning and then use a separate pump to do the rest of the water change. Python wastes too much water imo, especially when using large tanks.
I use a Mag-12 with a prefilter on it, place it on top of some rockwork, driftwood, or whatever sits at the water level I want to bring it to, and then wait...

Putting water back in, though, is all python in my fresh tanks. In salt the water goes into a rubbermaid tub where I mix the salt in, then I either use a small Rio to pump the water back into the tank or I'll use a 2l pitcher.

[Lady Hobbs]

It definately does use a lot of water and I wouldn't use it if I had a water bill, most likely. Or a septic system. My python leaks at the shut off, tho, and I have to hold a bucket under it. It probably needs a washer in there, and there is none.

[Aeonflame]

I use a regular 100 foot garden hose. It runs from my tank down my outside staircase to the garden standpipe, makes siphoning and refilling very easy I connect half of a two liter soda bottle to the end in the tank so I can vacuum at the same time. The water goes into my garden or into my pond, so it isnt wasted.

[tomchartjr]

I have never used a python but have seen them and I understand how they could vacumn a tank but how would you replace water with them without pumping chlorinated water into your tank? Do you remove the fish and then pump it in and then treat it? or are the fish ok in the tap water for a minute until you treat it in the tank? Am I missing something?

[MonkeyPox]

add dechlorinator before you add water

[bushwhacker]

i've said it before ..... if it wasnt for my python, i'd only have a 5 gallon tank

[tomchartjr]

add dechlorinator before you add water

So you would take out say 5 gallons or whatever % your doing and then you would add enough dechlorinator for 5 gallons into the low tank water and then directly add the tap water back into the tank with the python?

[MonkeyPox]

dose for the entire tank, as per instructions

[-Lp]

i've said it before ..... if it wasnt for my python, i'd only have a 5 gallon tank

I'm with you!